Complacency could be France's biggest obstacle at the World Cup finals.

Roger Lemerre's side, who will start as favourites together with Argentina,
have nothing to prove.

Success at Euro 2000 has been added to their triumph at France '98 and
even FIFA's hard-to-climb world rankings system places them top, although
they had to wait until May 2001 before finally ousting Brazil.

Over the past five years, dating back to their penalty shootout defeat
by the Czech Republic at Euro 96, France have steadily developed an impressively
deep reservoir of soccer talent.

Yet few of their stars play in their homeland, tempted abroad by wealthier
clubs in leagues such as Italy and England.

Some 75 players are currently exporting their French flair abroad and
the strength-in-depth is such that talented players such as Leeds United's
Olivier Dacourt, Aston Villa's David Ginola or Torino's Benoit Cauet are
regularly snubbed by Lemerre.

The flow of fresh new talent shows no sign of running dry.

Young players such as AJ Auxerre's Djibril Cisse and Olympique Lyon pair
Peguy Luyindula and Sidney Govou look well capable of succeeding current
regulars like Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Nicolas Anelka.

Lemerre's main problem in Korea and Japan will be to find the right blend
between the veterans of past World Cup and European championship campaigns
and new talent.

The indications are that Lemerre will stick by his old guard.

Any experimenting he may have done during the past year, and especially
in the Confederations Cup last summer, was due to circumstances surrounding
player availability.

"France have been doing all right for some time and if the old ones,
the title holders, behave like they should, there is no reason to make
changes even though the squad is open," Lemerre said in August.

Asked about the chances of gifted youngsters like Cisse making it to
next year's World Cup, Lemerre replied: "I'm not France's Under-21
manager."

As a result, despite the international retirements of former captain
Didier Deschamps and libero Laurent Blanc, France's team next summer should
look rather familiar.

Manchester United Fabien Barthez is the undisputed first choice in goal
while Lilian Thuram, Franck Leboeuf, new captain Marcel Desailly and Bayern's
Bixente Lizarazu should provide the defensive backbone of the team.

In midfield, Real Madrid playmaker Zinedine Zidane, seen in France and
abroad as the best player in the world, is a certain pick.

Lemerre's main dilemma will be in attack where he has more gifted players
than World Cup tickets.

Trezeguet has recovered well from a serious knee ligament injury suffered
in the controversial friendly against Australia in November, but the loss
of Pires means he may not necessarily line up alongside Henry, whose experience
as a winger stands Lemerre in good stead.

Liverpool loan striker Nicolas Anelka, Christophe Dugarry of Bordeaux,
Arsenal's Sylvain Wiltord are next in line, but the young hopeful Cisse
could yet force a string case.

Whoever plays will be going to Korea and Japan with one thought in common.
They all expect to return home a month or so later as World Champions.